Governance

Trustees (Governors) play an important role at Fairfield High School for Girls. The overall responsibility for the governance of the school lies with the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees are the strategic decision makers and vision setters at Fairfield and delegate a significant proportion of its responsibilities to the school’s committees. They play a vital role in ensuring that every pupil receives the best possible education and they set and safeguard an ethos of high expectations for everyone in the school community. Our Board of Trustees come from a range of different backgrounds and each individual person brings different skills and expertise to the role.

Welcome from the Chair of the Trust Board – Mrs Bev Worthington

Dear Parents and Carers,

As Chair of the Trust Board, I am delighted to welcome all of our parents and carers to our website. I hope that you will find all the information you need here, but if not, please do not hesitate to get in touch with either the school or myself via school. I am very proud of our school’s reputation and for the outstanding support our pupils receive. Fairfield High School for Girls is a fully inclusive school and every pupil matters to us; with our excellent experienced staff and the facilities we have available within school I am confident in saying that your daughters could not be at a better school. Fairfield High School for Girls is a school where we recognise each pupil’s individual needs, talents and contributions. As Chair of the Trust Board, I am extremely proud of Fairfield High School for Girls and I promise you that we will do our very best to ensure that your daughters enjoy their time with us, are kept safe and achieve their full potential. I can guarantee that they will leave the school as responsible, respectful, educated, caring members of the community with values that are second to none. I look forward to meeting you in the near future at one of our events.

Yours sincerely

Bev Worthington
Chair of the Trust Board

Contact Us

Our Governance Professional is Mrs Julie Murphy who can be contacted by email – Jmurphy@fairfieldhighschool.co.uk

Trustees

Mrs Bev Worthington – Trustee and Chair of the Trust Board

Date of Appointment	1st April 2021
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	31st March 2025
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mr Peter Ingham – Trustee and Vice Chair of the Trust Board

Date of Appointment	25th January 2022
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	24th January 2026
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Councillor Jack Naylor – Trustee

Date of Appointment	1st November 2023
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	31st October 2027
Term Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	Tameside Councillor for Labour – Denton South Governor at St. Annes Primary School in Denton Greater Manchester Pensions Fund Local Pensions Board Member

Mrs Emma Quinn – Trustee

Date of Appointment	27th September 2023
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	26th September 2027
Term Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	Co-opted Governor at St. Mary’s Primary and Nursery School in Droylsden Assistant Headteacher at St. Mary’s Primary and Nursery School in Droylsden

Mrs Lorna Stafford – Trustee and Board of Trustees Safeguarding Lead

Date of Appointment	22nd March 2022
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	21st March 2026
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mr Rob Taylor – Trustee

Date of Appointment	22nd March 2022
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	21st March 2026
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mrs Efua Uke – Trustee

Date of Appointment	2nd October 2023
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	1st October 2027
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	Parent Elected Governor at St. Richard’s Roman Catholic Primary School in Manchester

Councillor Brenda Warrington – Trustee

Date of Appointment	6th September 2023
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	5th September 2027
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	Tameside Councillor for Labour – Denton West

Mr Dominic Byrne – Parent Trustee

Date of Appointment	2nd October 2023
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	1st October 2027
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mr Helgi Kristjánsson – Parent Trustee

Date of Appointment	25th January 2022
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	24th January 2026
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Staff Representatives

Mrs Lynne Cheetham – Support Staff Representative

Date of Appointment	25th January 2022
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	24th January 2026
Appointed by	Support Staff Elected
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mr Matthew Knowles – Teaching Staff Representative          

Date of Appointment	25th January 2022
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	24th January 2026
Appointed by	Teaching Staff Elected
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Attendees at Meetings

Mrs Julie Murphy – Governance Professional

Business and Pecuniary Interests

None

Mrs Stephanie Bateman – Accounting Officer and Headteacher

Business and Pecuniary Interests

None

Members

Members have a limited but important role to play in safeguarding Academy Trust Governance. This is similar to the role of shareholders of a company limited by shares. They have a duty to ensure the Academy Trust meets its overarching objectives of advancing (for the public benefit) education in the United Kingdom. Members will also ensure that the school is governed in accordance with the culture, values and ethos of its unique history. The Members main responsibilities are to:

• Sign the memorandum and articles of association and amend the articles of association   subject to any restrictions created by the funding agreement or charity law.
• Appoint and remove Members and Trustees.
• Appoint and remove the Auditors.
• Receive a copy of the Annual Accounts and Report.
• Ensure the success of the Trust.
• By special resolution, issue direction to the Trustees to take a specific action.
• Meet (usually once a year) at an Annual General Meeting similar to shareholders.
• Dissolve the Trust.

They do not, however, get involved with the day to day running of the school nor tell the Trustees how to run the Trust. Members meet as required in accordance with their guardianship responsibilities but this must include an Annual General Meeting to receive the Board of Trustees Annual Report and to appoint the Auditors.

Mrs Sharman Birtles – Member

Date of Appointment	1st April 2021
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	31st March 2025
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mr Tom Doyle – Member

Date of Appointment	1st April 2021
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	31st March 2025
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mrs Barbara Derbyshire – Member

Date of Appointment	1st September 2022
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	31st August 2026
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mrs Pat Catterall – Member

Date of Appointment	13th February 2023
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	12th February 2027
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mrs Helen Weston – Member

Date of Appointment	13th February 2023
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term of Office ends	12th February 2027
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	Governor at Audenshaw Primary School in Audenshaw

Governance Documents